The prophet Joel introduces to the reader a phrase that is used throughout all of the prophetic passages in God's Word. That phrase, "the day of the Lord", is used to describe a special time in history.

First let me give you the meaning, or definition of the phrase, "the day of the Lord". "It is any time in history when God intercedes in the affairs of man personally on the earth." That definition has either a "general usage" of the phrase or a "specific usage" of the phrase.

The "general usage" refers to a period of 1,007 years, the period of time between the Rapture and the Great White Throne Judgment. The word "day" used in this general usage to define the "day" as a period of time is not a 24-hour day.

The "specific usage" of the phrase is referring to "the day" that the Lord will step back on earth on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. This usage of the phrase is found in Zechariah 14:1-4. You determine whether it's the general or specific usage of the phrase, the "day of the Lord" by the context of the passage.

In this second chapter of Joel, and throughout the rest of Joel, the Prophet is using the "general usage" of the term, days that will be leading up to the day Jesus returns to the earth, the "specific usage". Joel says, verse 1, "blow the trumpet in Zion (Jerusalem) and sound the alarm in my holy mountain".

The term "my holy mountain" is referring to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The rest of the passage for today's reading begins to describe these awesome day leading up to the "campaign of Armageddon", which by the way starts at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

There is much I could discuss with you in this passage that I will leave to another devotional. However, notice where we need to focus to determine where the Lord is in His timetable, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. As you do that today there is evidence that "the day of the Lord", His return, is close at hand. Keep looking up.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to "sound the trumpet" across the world of His soon return.